Late at night, above the forest of the Demon Realm.
A streak of light shot through the sky like a falling star. If you looked closer, you’d see it was a woman, barely holding herself steady, crashing straight toward a wooden house hidden deep in the woods.
With a loud crash, she smashed through the roof and fell right into the room.
Drake Pembroke jolted awake, sitting up in bed with a startled look as the strange woman literally dropped into his home from the heavens.
She wore a Phoenix Light Robe, her silver hair flowing, crimson eyes glowing faintly in the dark. Skin pale as snow, lips tinted like cherry blossoms, her stunning beauty made her look more like a painting than a living person.
Even someone like Drake, once the Demon Lord who'd seen countless stunning women across the realms, couldn't help but stare.
From her robes, she had to be a high-ranking figure from some sacred place in the Celestial Realm. Could they have found his hideaway?
Had the Celestial Realm come to eliminate him?
Didn't make sense. He’d been in hiding here nearly a century. All signs erased. Besides, they would never dare make that move.
Maybe it was... just a coincidence?
Now what?
Kill her, bury her, pretend she was never here?
He wasn’t about to blow his cover over this.
While Drake’s thoughts raced, the woman’s eyes locked tightly on him. Spring water shimmered in her pupils, a daze blooming behind her gaze.
The man before her had a face like carved jade, elegant and refined, with a quiet aura she couldn’t place... Who would've thought such a man lived in the human world.
No, now wasn’t the time to think about that. She had to get out. Fast. Or the poison would take her down.
She could feel it surging now — hot, thick, swallowing her clarity. Her body flushed red, breath full of heat. It was getting more and more unbearable.
Selene Collins forced herself upright, but her limbs were jelly. The moment she stood, her knees buckled, and before she could stop herself, she collapsed right into Drake’s lap.
What the hell?
Some seduction trap? A setup?
To avoid misunderstanding — and to keep his reputation — Drake raised both hands, didn’t lay a finger on her, just stared down at her confused, increasingly flushed expression.
He’d seen this before.
As an ex-Demon Lord, he recognized it instantly — the infamous Thousand Demon Lust Poison from his native realm.
Made from demonic insects, beasts, and herbs that stoked raw desire, this poison had no cure. Once infected, if you didn’t mate before time ran out — you died. Painfully.
By the looks of it, the woman had reached her limit.
Lying against Drake, Selene’s body burned hotter and hotter. Her hands trembled, vision blurring. The poison was winning, and fast.
As she breathed in his scent — thick with masculine energy — she swallowed involuntarily, skin heating like fire.
Lifting her hazy but determined gaze, her stare lingered on Drake’s face.
There was no other way.
She would use this man. Just once. To survive.
No other choice.
Fine, let this mortal take the bargain.
With a flick of her wrist, several immortal cords coiled out and tied Drake to the bed, arms and legs spread.
Then with one hand she pulled the golden pins from her hair — silver strands falling down like a river of stars around her waist.Slim fingers tugged at the silk, the Phoenix Robe slid off her shoulders, and even the undergarment dropped. Selene Collins stood bare before Drake Pembroke.
What the hell? Was he seriously about to get forced?
What now? Should he resist?
Too fast. Too real.
Drake was stuck. This was his first time, damn it.
He’d roamed the six realms, ruled the dark, yet had never touched a woman. He always believed women just slowed his sword.
Now, one was pinning him down. And, weirdly, he felt a mix of nerves… and something close to thrill.
He could snap the celestial bindings in a heartbeat if he wanted. But then what? She’d die—taken down by the Thousand Demon Aphrodisiac—just like that.
He wasn’t some saint, but letting a beauty like her die here seemed… wasteful. And worse, it might drag him into trouble. Could even expose who he really was.
Screw it. Think of it as doing a good deed.
Selene’s breath was hot, her scent sweet. She bit her lip, leaned down, and pressed herself against him.
Then the room filled with soft moans and broken gasps, echoing from the rafters.
Three days and nights passed like that—nonstop. The drug was ruthless.
On the fourth morning, Selene finally woke.
Her bare skin lay flush against Drake’s chest. The whole place was trashed. The bed had broken into splinters beneath them, and now they were both sprawled naked on the floor.
Memories of those wild nights flooded back. A flush bloomed across her cheeks. Then sorrow crept into her eyes.
She’d given herself—an empress of the heavens—to a mortal…
Lifting her gaze, she stared at the man beside her, still deep in sleep. Her eyes narrowed. Slowly, she raised a hand.
No one must ever know. She couldn’t allow it.
But her hand stopped mid-air.
He hadn’t meant to do this. She forced him. He even saved her life. To strike now would be too cruel, too low.
Besides… they had shared something real—even if it came from poison’s madness.
With a sigh, Selene dragged herself up, threw on her robe with a flick, and before leaving, paused beside him one last time.
She looked down, soft light flickering in her eyes, and whispered, “Differences between mortals and immortals… this was just a dream.”
“Let’s both pretend we never met.”
Then, with a tap of her toe, she vanished into the wind.
The moment she left, Drake opened his eyes and sat up.
A faint smile tugged at his lips. “Just a dream, huh…” he muttered. “Fine by me.”
He’d been awake the whole time but didn’t know how to face her—so he faked sleep.
Seeing her choose to leave silently… well, that was best. She’d go back to her high halls. He’d stay hidden in peace. Separate worlds, just as before.
Surveying the mess, he scratched his head.
They got a bit… carried away?
Was she alright?
Then something struck him. His expression froze.
Crap.
He forgot to take measures.
But she was from the heavens—strong, powerful. Probably fine.
She'd most likely use her own spiritual force to deal with it…
Yeah... there was nothing to worry about. Probably.
